WrestleMania 40 is right around the corner, and when the “grandest stage of them all” lights up in Philadelphia, more than a few stars will receive some spotlight. Beyond the undeniable performers, four breakout stars from WrestleMania 40 have an opportunity to change their career trajectory on April 6th and 7th. They can find themselves in a position to rise above the rest of the roster.
The main characters like Cody Rhodes or The Rock will obviously have a big night. These other talents, just barely beneath that level, can make the most of a great showing. Not all of them will make it happen, but several have a real shot at a “WrestleMania moment”.
Jey Uso
Despite being “Main Event,” Jey Uso hasn’t really solidified himself as a top star. His reactions continue to be enormous as fans rally behind Jey. However, he still needs a singular win that points to his ascension to the top of the card. Instead, his popularity is being powered by the phenomenal Bloodline story, of which he was a cornerstone for years.
This year at WrestleMania 40, he can do both. Jey Uso has the opportunity to be one of the breakout stars from WrestleMania 40 with a big win and a pivotal moment for the Bloodline saga.
His match against his brother Jimmy Uso has been building since Jimmy returned from injury years ago at the start of Roman Reign’s title match. No match, not even Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns, has that much history or drama. The crowd, already invested in Jey and ready to shout “Yeet” after each strike, will probably be hot for this match.
In what is shaping up to be a potentially lousy weekend for The Bloodline, Jey Uso can beat his brother and help usher in a new era for WWE. Jey has much more experience as a solo performer than Jimmy since their tag team split up. If he can lead the match on top of his big win, then that new era will probably see Jey as one of the top faces for years to come.
Jade Cargill
Jade Cargill felt like a breakout star after the Royal Rumble this past year but cooled off after that debut. She has a chance to be one of the breakout stars of WrestleMania 40 if they find a match for her on the card. It initially felt odd that Jade didn’t get a big build to WrestleMania. So far, only two women’s matches have been announced, worrying many fans.
Luckily, the Damage CTRL angle has opened up an avenue for Jade and other talented women to get their time in a tag match. She will probably get a big win, too. Despite the original misgivings, WWE made a solid move. By keeping her away, WWE did her two huge favors on her journey to stardom.
What a night for @Jade_Cargill! pic.twitter.com/AxusC1UMiF
— WWE (@WWE) January 30, 2024
Intentionally or otherwise, they made Jade seem like a big debut again despite already being in the Royal Rumble. This will give the WWE fans a reason to clamor over her presumed WrestleMania match in a way they may not have had her come out two months ago and start a regular feud for the big show.
It also has the most tribalistic elements of the online fandom, inadvertently lowering expectations. Since her departure from AEW, a small but vocal contingent of fans has made it clear.
They feel that Jade is not talented enough to be the superstar that WWE has slated her to become. She shattered expectations the first time, but her absence has started the rumors again that Jade isn’t ready. In the truest sense, her haters will fuel her.
When she enters Philadelphia, she will look like one of the biggest stars on the roster and shatter those expectations again.
#DIY
Careers can be forged in a solid ladder match, especially when it’s tag teams at WrestleMania. A quiet sort of “Cinderella story” has emerged in the build-up to the six-man tag team ladder match slated for WrestleMania 40. After around ten years with WWE, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa are getting a match at WrestleMania.
Collectively known as #DIY, the two NXT legends have had a slow go of building rapport with the main roster audience. Finally, they are making progress, and the WrestleMania ladder match offers them an excellent opportunity to kick their efforts into overdrive and become one of WWE’s premier tag teams heading into the summer.
Ladder matches are exciting for the frequent high-spots and ladder-based offense. The gimmick requires a certain amount of daredevil athleticism, and those acts tend to get over more than even the winners. Many performers slated for the match or being considered for it on SmackDown don’t necessarily fit that mold. Both members of #DIY do, though.
They are smaller, more athletic, and have an eye for moments to get the crowd off their feet. There will likely be some confusion and new champions at the end of that match, but it’s going to be the men who can pop the crowd that get the attention. In this match, #DIY is most likely to stand out.
LA Knight
One performer fans are somewhat desperate to see as one of the breakout stars of WrestleMania 40 is LA Knight. Even with his rising popularity, Knight has yet to have a signature moment. He is usually on the losing end of his physical encounters. Likewise, his most memorable matches have been with stars who work in a more methodical style with a lot of character and dramatic pauses.
He probably would have fallen out of the main event without his superb promo ability. At WrestleMania 40, he has a real opportunity to change the perception of his in-ring resume with a single match.
Might wanna invest in a front gate instead of video games Styles…YEAH https://t.co/WIA62fcv6d
— LA Knight (@RealLAKnight) March 24, 2024
AJ Styles is one of the best wrestlers in the industry. As an in-ring performer, he is still among the greatest ever. If anyone can help LA Knight stand out after the bell, it is Styles. AJ has already worked with LA Knight and was a big part of the Royal Rumble title match a few months back.
Since then, the two have been targeting one another, so the feud, while not groundbreaking, has been well-established. If Knight can have a classic AJ Styles mania match, he is bound to be in the conversation for match-of-the-night. That will go a long way in his campaign to reach the top of the card by this time next year.
More Than Four Breakout Stars from WrestleMania 40
There may be more than four breakout stars from WrestleMania 40. The energy of Rock, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, and Seth Rollins could take all the attention off the rest of the show. In that scenario, it is not that far-fetched; nobody will fly above their orbit. It is unlikely, though, that nobody makes an impact at WWE’s marquee event.
Somebody always puts on an unexpected banger of a match that propels them forward. Gunther, Sheamus, and Drew McIntyre had a stellar bout last year. Without a Sheamus injury, all three would almost certainly have been in a major match this year because of that performance. Time will tell who joins them this year and what the following months have in store for those talented superstars.
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